Means for supplying auxiliary fuel to internal-combustion engines



NOV. 10, 1953 w BEVls ET AL 2,658,490

MEANS FOR SUPPLYING AUXILIARY FUEL TO INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES FiledMay 4, 1951 lnvelzial .AJBeU (Ls a y b .b ww t t, m 0 Ja m m w Q\\ A w e0 s n f J Patented Nov. 10, 1953 MEANS FOR: SUPPLYING- AUXILIARY FUEL TINTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES William Albert Bevis, Pinner, and PatrickCusack, Chiswick, London, England, assignors to C. A. V. Limited,London, England Application May 4, 1951, SerialNo. 224,586

Claims priority, application Great Britain May 13, 1950 3. Claims. 1

This invention has for its object to provide simple and effective meansfor supplying an auxiliary liquid fuel, such as ether, to a diesel orother internal combustion engine, to facilitate starting of the engine.

The invention comprises the combination of a hollow two-part bodyadapted to receive a puncturable capsule containing ether or otherliquid, and a suction piece attached to one of the body parts andadapted to puncture and enter the capsule when the two parts of the bodyare interconnected, one of the said parts being adapted for connectionto the manifold of the engine.

The invention also comprises a device as specifled in the precedingparagraph, having combined with it a well for liquid derived from thecapsule, the well being arranged between the suction piece and theengine manifold connection.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, there is provided a hollow body of cylindricalor other convenient form consisting of two parts, a, b which areinterconnectible by a screw thread or other means. Coaxially with thepart a is attached one end of a suction piece 0 which along a part ofits length is preferably of tapered form and which at its free end 01 issharply pointed. Along the greater part of its length, the said piecehas formed in it an axial bore e which at the end adjacent to the pointcommunicates with one or more radial ports 1. At the fixed end the saidpiece is attached to a part c which is provided with a connection it forattachment to the manifold of the engine either directly or by means ofa pipe. The length of the uction piece is such that it extends to nearthe closed end of the part b of the body.

The two parts a, b of the body are of sufficient diameter and length toaccommodate a capsule i of such size as will contain the desired volumeof ether or the like, and preferably the detachable part b of the bodyis of such size that it can enclose the whole or greater part of thecapsule. Also a groove 0& is formed along the interior of the part a toallow air from the atmosphere to enter the body part. If desired afilter in may be combined with the part I) through which the air mustpass before entering the groove a by way of drilled holes b in the partb.

The capsule may be made from any convenient thin and easily puncturablematerial, either metallic or non-metallic. Or it may be made for thegreater part from relatively thick material,

and provided with a puncturable closure piece at one end. To facilitatepuncturing the tapered suction piece may have formed on it a helicalthread n in the manner of a wood screw.

The mode of use is as follows:

With the parts of the body separated, the charged capsule is placed inthe detachable part b, and on connecting the parts, the pointed end ofthe suction piece pierces and enters one end of the capsule. When theengine is set in motion by a starting motor or other means, thedepression of pressure in the manifold, sucks the liquid from thecapsule through the suction piece, and the mixture of the ether or otherliquid with the air passing through the manifold provides thecombustible mixture for starting the engine. Meanwhile air enters thetwo-part body to ensure complete discharge of the capsule. Air passesthrough the filter m and drilled holes 11 and thence through the groovewhich extends throughout the length of the threads.

Preferably and as shown in the drawing, there is combined with theconstruction above described a well adapted to receive liquid from thecapsule. In the example shown there is formed in the upper end of thepart a a chamber constituting the well 0, and the part 9 which issecured (in any convenient manner) to the part a, has formed on it anannular extension p which is contained in the said chamber, and is sodimensioned as to form with the part a the required well 0, the latterbeing in communication with the bore of the suction piece 0 throughradial ports q. Also the air can be admitted to the well 0 along anarrow passage 7' which receives air entering the body part by way ofthe groove a above mentioned.

Preferably there is mounted on the suction piece 0 a rubber or likesealing washer r, and on the upper end of the part b is formed a narrowinwardly directed lip 8. During the initial part of the movement of thepart b when it is being engaged with the part a, the stem of the suctionpiece 0 punctures the capsule, but no displacement of liquid occurs fromthe capsule to the well and air flows freely in from the outeratmosphere through the filter m, drilled holes b groove a and past theedge of the washer 1'. But when the lip s encounters the under side ofthe washer 1* it temporarily stops further inflow of air by closing thepath from the upper end of the groove a and the continued advance of thepart b into the part it causes a reduction of volume of, andconsequently an increase of pressure in, the entrapped air, resulting indisplacement of liquid from the capsule to the well 0. Meanwhile the lip3 slides over (whilst main taining a sealing contact with) the washeruntil the part b approaches its inmost position. Finally the lip 8passes over the washer to the position shown in which communication withthe outer atmosphere is restored.

To ensure flow of air into the capsule, the stem of the suction piecewhich enters the capsule may have one or more longitudinal groovesformed therein. To prevent accidental unscrewing of the part b from thepart a a stirrup t may be pivotally attached to the part a and adaptedto bear against the lower end of the part 2).

During the initial phase of the starting of the engine and after liquidhas been displaced from the capsule into the well as previouslydescribed, liquid is drawn freely into the manifold from the well, thequantity of liquid thus supplied being sufiicient to provide anover-rich combustible mixture. Later the liquid is drawn from thecapsule through the well at a rate suificient to supply a less richmixture.

By this invention a device for supplying to a diesel or other engine, anauxiliary starting fuel of a readily combustible character, is providedin a very simple and convenient form, and in the form in which a well iscombined with the device, an ample supply of liquid during the firstphase of the starting operation is ensured.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patcut is:

1. Apparatus for supplying auxiliary starting fuel to a diesel or otherinternal combustion engine comprising, in combination, a hollow bodyhaving two relatively movable parts and adapted to receive a puncturablecapsule containing ether or other liquid, a suction piece attached toone of the body parts and formed and'arranged to puncture and enter thecapsule upon appropriate relative movement of the said parts, one ofsaid parts being adapted to be connected to the engine manifold, a wellformed in the body and arranged to receive liquid from the capsule,means permitting air to enter the body from the outside atmosphere, andmeans actuated by relative move ment of the body parts for temporarilyinterrupting the entry of air into the body so that during suchinterruption the entry of the suction piece into the capsule forcesliquid therefrom into the well, whereby such liquid can be drawn freelyfrom the well by the engine during the initial phase of starting of theengine.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a resilient sealing washercarried by the suction piece and an inwardly directed lip on one of thebody parts disposed to engage the said washer and thereby obstruct themeans permitting air to enter the body, the said washer and lip being sodimensioned that upon continued relative movement of the body partsafter engagement of the washer and lip the said lip passes over theresilient washer and thereby re-opens the means permitting air to enterthe body.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a screw threadedconnection between the body parts permitting relative movement thereofand a stirrup attached to one of the body parts and adapted to beengaged with the other body part to prevent accidental separation of theparts.

WILLIAM ALBERT BEVIS. PATRICK CUSACK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,364,356 Greathouse Dec. 5, 1944 2,485,423 Weaver Oct. 18,1949 2,516,787 Moody July 25, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS N umber Country Date2,252 Great Britain Jan. 28, 1913

